RIPARIAN
PROPER FUNCTIONING CONDITION
A Tool for Integrating the Fundamental Sciences
into Collaborative Decision-Making
Dixie Creek
NV 1989
Dixie Creek
NV 1995
Burro Creek
AZ 1981
Burro Creek
AZ 2000
Address Barriers
“Information does not resolve social
conflicts, people do.”
(Duane 1997)
Creeks & Communities
• Work with people on their land and issues
• Requires network of individuals
√ Diverse backgrounds
√ Can read the land and communicate it
effectively
√ Know how to work with people and manage
conflict
Bring diverse groups of people together
Focus initially on the physical function
Build understanding of the attributes &
processes that help produce desired
benefits and values
Create
respectful
learning
environments
Science, Technical, Social
• PFC is qualitative
based on science
• It is applied by people
with strong technical
skills and experience
• It allows all members
of the community to
understand and
participate
Proper Functioning Condition
• On-the-ground condition
• Assessment method
PFC On-The-Ground Condition
Adequate vegetation, land form or large woody material to:
•
•
•
•
•
Dissipate stream energy
Reduce erosion
Filter sediment
Capture bedload
Aid floodplain
development
• Improve floodwater
retention and
groundwater recharge
• Develop root masses that
stabilize stream banks
Physics
• Increased water
quality and
quantity
• Diverse ponding
and channel
characteristics
• Habitat for fish
and wildlife
• Greater
biodiversity
Values
Adequate
vegetation,
landform or large
woody material
present
Functional - At Risk
Riparian-Wetland Areas in
Functional Condition (partially)
However an existing attribute
• Soil
• Water
• Vegetation
Makes them susceptible to degradation
during high-flow events like the 5-, 10and 20- year events
An existing attribute makes them susceptible
to degradation during high-flow events like
the 5-, 10-and 20- year events = F-A-R
Nonfunctioning
Areas that are clearly not
providing adequate
vegetation, landform, or large
woody debris
To:
• Dissipate stream energy
• Improve floodwater retention &
groundwater recharge
• Stabilize streambanks
• And other characteristics common to PFC
Clearly not providing adequate vegetation,
landform, or large woody debris
= Non-Functional
Potential
The highest
ecological status a
riparian-wetland
area can attain
given no political,
social, or economic
constraints.
9Potential natural
community.
9Dimension, pattern,
& profile
Being all it possibly
can be.
„
Capability
Highest ecological
status an area
can attain given
political, social,
or economic
constraints,
which are often
referred to as
limiting factors.
„The
highest ecological status it
can attain given major influences
by humans.
PFC Hydrology Items
• Floodplain
• Beaver Dams
• Channel
Characteristics
• Riparian Area
Widening
• Watershed
Influence
PFC Vegetation Items
• Diverse Age-Class
• Diverse
Composition
• Soil Moisture
Characteristics
• Root masses
• Vigor
• Adequate
Vegetative Cover
• Source of Large
Woody Material
PFC Erosion/Deposition Items
• Floodplain and
Channel
Characteristics
• Point Bars
Revegetating
• Lateral Stability
• Vertical Stability
• Water & Sediment
Balance
Functioning
Condition
Some riparian-wetland
areas can function
properly before they
achieve their potential.
Woody
shrubs
such as
willows
Functioning
Condition
Others may require the
potential vegetation to
function.
When PFC has been
achieved, physical
processes are in a
working order, and
conditions can progress
towards desired
conditions
Riparian Area Recovery
PFC*
PNC
Desired Condition
Time
Fisheries Values
Livestock Values
Recreation Values
Wildlife Values
Watershed Values
Bare Ground
Vulnerable
*Proper Functioning Condition = Resilient during 5-, 10, and 20- year events
An Assessment Method
• Completed by experienced
IDT, but encourages
participation of local people
• First step, not last step
• Helps prioritize efforts at
different scales (stream,
watershed, basin)
PFC Assessment Method
Water
Soil, Landscape
Vegetation
Wha
t ma
limit y be
ing?
Wh
at’s
wo
r
we
ll? king
n
a
c
w
Ho
nt
e
m
e
g
mana roved?
p
m
i
e
b
Wha
t fur
ther
evalu
ation
s
are
appr
opria
te?
Priority for Restoration
• Function at Risk nonapparent or downward
trend
• Maintain and protect
proper functioning
streams
• Non-functioning streams
• There may be reasons to
use different priorities
Development & Implementation
• Multi-agency team of top scientists from
Hydrology, Soils, Vegetation, Biology.
• Four year study period in the 12
Western States (1988-92).
• Collected soil, hydrology, and
vegetation information at field sites.
Subjective?
Learning Together
PFC workshops
bring local people,
government
workers, scientists,
farmers, ranchers
and many others •
together
Understanding of
Processes
• Common Vocabulary
• A Common Vision
What do you see?
Pearl Creek NV
1982
Pearl Creek NV
1983
Finding a Common Interest Without
Forcing Common Values
Muddy Creek WY
1986
Muddy Creek WY
1996
Riparian Function
• Better
understanding of
riparian function
Awareness
understanding
Acceptance
Action
• Enough agreement
that leads to
collective action
through
management
results
agreement
Accountability
Testimonial
• Sustainable Northwest…one of our
partners in the Klamath Basin